Decorative Painting - Defined

As defined by the Society of Decorative Painters, decorative painting is a diverse art form utilizing a variety of techniques and media to decorate functional and non-functional surfaces.

Though many call it tole painting, the art form has taken styles and techniques of the past and incorporated them with the trends and materials of the present, while developing the decorative art heritage of the future.

Tole painting is the general term historically used to describe decorative painting on tin surfaces, especially in New England and by the Pennsylvania Germans. Contemporary decorative painting encompasses not only the folk art styles of Sweden, Norway, Germany, Russia, England and Mexico, but many facets of Early American decorative painting such as stenciling, faux finishing, bronzing, gold leafing, country painting, theorem and graining.




This metal tray was designed and painted by the Folk Artist, Peter Ompir. It was done in the mid- twentith century with mixed media. It represents Ompir's skill and mastery of color. This historic piece can be found in the Decorative Arts Collection Museum in Atlanta, GA.

More pieces from The Decorative Arts Collection can be viewed online at http://www.decorativeartscollection.org/